Abstract:
This investigation was carried out to evaluate the nutrient composition and antinutritional factors of five wild edible fruits Embelia schimperi, Cordia africana, Ficus vasta, Mimusops kummel, and Syzygium guineense. Proximate composition parameters (moisture, ash, crude fibre, crude fat, and crude protein) and antinutritional factors were evaluated using methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists and mineral analysis using the atomic absorption spectroscopy method. Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 20) were used to analyse the data. Among the five wild edible fruit species, Embelia schimperi and Cordia africana had the highest fibre content (18 ± 0 03 g/100 g) and high protein content (8 7 ± 0 03 g/100 g), respectively. Syzygium guineense had the highest amount of moisture (16 3 ± 0 001 g/100 g), energy (320 58 ± 0 03 kcal/100 g), and carbohydrate content (76.72 g/100 g). Embelia schimperi was found to have the highest saponin content (2.1 mg/100 g). Oxalate content ranged from 0.46 mg/100 g in Syzygium guineense to 1.7 mg/100 g in Cordia africana. Mineral analysis showed that Ficus vasta had the highest Ca content (1015 mg/100 g), whereas the highest Zn content (38.6 mg/100 g) was investigated in Embelia schimperi. According to their recommended proximate and mineral contribution to daily nutrient requirements in humans, Embelia schimperi, Cordia africana, Ficus vasta, Mimusops kummel, and Syzygium guineense are sound in their dietary composition and in combating hunger especially in developing countries. More studies are vital to assess the nutritional composition and antinutritional quality of these wild edible plants and encourage farmers to cultivate in the agroforestry system.
